In a pivotal ruling, the Supreme Court has confirmed that part-time sweepers, appointed temporarily to regular sanctioned positions, are entitled to receive regular pay. The judgment, delivered on January 31, 2025, dismissed the State of Madhya Pradesh’s claim that a part-time designation precluded the workers from benefiting from a regular salary.
The bench, led by Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B. Varale, clarified that the workers’ appointment to permanent, sanctioned posts was not affected by their part-time status. “The appellants’ designation as ‘part-time’ sweepers does not diminish the validity of their appointment,” the court stated. Despite being hired temporarily, they were placed in positions that were otherwise vacant and qualified as regular posts.
The case centered on cleaning workers who had been denied regular pay, despite fulfilling the requirements outlined in a 1984 circular, which entitles employees who complete three years in such roles to receive a revised pay scale. The workers had been appointed under the guidelines of this circular, but the Madhya Pradesh government contested their claim, pointing to the lack of a formal screening committee for their appointments.
The court rejected this argument, emphasizing that the absence of a screening committee did not alter the fact that the workers had been assigned to regular positions. “The appellants were employed on regular sanctioned posts by virtue of their original appointment orders,” the judgment noted, reinforcing their entitlement to regular pay.
This ruling overrides a previous decision by the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Division Bench, which had denied the workers the pay they were owed. The court’s decision has now affirmed the lower court’s ruling, ensuring the workers are compensated as full-time employees.
The case, Rakesh Kumar Charmakar & Ors. v. The State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors., stands as a key legal victory for part-time employees seeking fair compensation for work done under permanent conditions.